The 2026 World Cup has had its first penalty shootout and in a departure from history … Germany lost.It was dramatic, gripping, emotional and ,as always for one side, extremely cruel.This was the first time German players have ever had the pain of being on the losing side in a World Cup shootout but there are hundreds of players who have felt the devastation of losing on penalty kicks against a goalkeeper from 12 yards.The game has changed how its extra-time rules have worked over the years with instant wins and losses after a golden goal or silver goal making a tie winnable in one half of extra time, whereas shootouts have largely remained the same.But is there a better way to do it? A fairer way? A more fitting test of skills?We asked our writers and this is what they said.Just keep playingI am all for the ‘Golden Goal’ format to return in extra time. Sudden death overtime periods where both teams compete until a goal is scored. You can have teams play 15-minute halves, like we already do currently. If neither team has scored a goal in either period, you can keep going until someone scores.Many North American sports leagues like the NHL, the NBA, MLB and even the WNBA have some form of continuous overtime. During NHL playoff games, teams play overtime period after overtime period until there’s a goal scored. And the tension remains.Jack Hughes celebrates his Olympics overtime goal (Elsa / Getty Images)Previous concerns were that teams would play too defensively and try to bring the game to penalties. But if you remove penalties as a safety net, you’ll force teams to play to win. Not to mention, you get a result that’s a product of the game. Unlike penalties, which can see championships decided by a spot-kicking competition.And if you’re that worried about teams still trying to be too defensive in extra time, encourage teams to move the ball forward from their own end. Similar to basketball’s backcourt violation, maybe teams need a similar rule. But more importantly, implementing a golden goal in football would guarantee an exciting finish for all.Julian McKenzieAdd free kicksFull disclosure, I really enjoy penalty shootouts and genuinely believe them to be the best way to separate two sides after 120 minutes. I’m familiar with the arguments about settling games on the pitch and I sympathise with them, but what if two teams have combined to create a game that nobody actually wants to watch more of? It’s rare that a match of real quality lasts that long; it feels as if the opposite is more commonly true.So, no revolution from me, but if we had to make a tweak then I would recommend a version of a game many of us played as children. One penalty, two free kicks from anywhere along the arc of the D, and then a shot from each corner of the box. The kicks would be taken alternately, as now, and it would retain all the elements of the existing shootout, just with a bit of variation.Interestingly, many of football’s content creators produce videos in this format so, although that isn’t the task at hand, it could also be a tick in the “younger generation” box that football is so concerned by.Seb Stafford-BloorSmaller game, drop players as we go“But you can’t do 3-on-3 overtime in soccer. The field is too big!” Sir, please sit down. This is my Wendy’s. The answer is a hybrid of college football and the NHL, with a dash of backyard pickup. And punishment.Reduce the pitch to one half. We play 5-on-5 (plus keepers), with 15 minutes to score. After 15 minutes, we flip sides so every fan in the stadium gets a good look, and play 15 more. Final score is the final score. Everyone is exhausted and annoyed. Two players have retired in protest. But we have a winner.Still tied after 30? Drop to 4-on-3 and go again. Still nothing? We drop to 3-on-2. Tied after 180 minutes? Both teams are eliminated from the tournament for incompetence.